The winners of the South Norfolk Community Awards 2023 have been announced, and several Wymondham heroes have been recognised for their contribution to the community.
Chloe Francis has won Young Person of the Year - a young person who has made remarkable and inspiring achievements in support of their community. Chloe, aged 16, is a valued member of the Wymondham Community Outreach Team, a group of volunteers who support vulnerable residents in the town. They run a food and clothes bank and deliver food parcels to those who cannot collect. Since joining the group three years ago, Chloe has become an integral and hard-working member of the team. The kindness and compassion she shows residents is appreciated by all.
Arnie McConnell from Wymondham Community Outreach Project explained: “Chloe came to us when her parents requested that she could join us to try and overcome some shyness. Chloe started off as a very quiet but important part of the team. I have watched her blossom into an amazingly efficient, effective and caring young lady. That’s a great thing to see. What we try to do when working with young people is to offer them, within a safe environment, an insight into an area of society and community that perhaps their own lives don’t usually encounter.”
The Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Inekke Waloejo-Loke. The category highlights an individual who has volunteered their time to make an outstanding contribution to their community, and Inekke plays a lead role in the Wymondham Community Outreach Project. She has volunteered 10-15 hours each week, for the last three years. Her role is to manage and collate food parcels that are delivered to over 100 residents in the local area. Inekke orders and tailors the food parcels individually after getting to know each family’s needs. She is described as a woman of integrity who serves her community with care and humanity.
Inekke said: “I was so surprised, I wasn’t expecting it. I didn’t know anything about it until the lady from South Norfolk Council called. It was completely unexpected as I don’t do anything different from any other volunteer. I live very nearby so I just pop in whenever things need doing.”
Arnie was full of praise for the volunteers: “Inekke and Chloe are fantastic members of the team. Both of them demonstrate great kindness and compassion to people who are struggling. I have the good fortune of working with a group of volunteers who are second to none. I congratulate Inekke and Chloe on their achievements, but also commend all the wonderful volunteers in the group for coming together and offering a very special service to the marginalised people in and around Wymondham.”
Arnie continued: “We are blessed by so many capable, caring members of the community who give generously of their time. Not just the odd hour here and there but over years, to help the less well off. We have such high regard for each other, it’s a pleasure to work here. The world we live in is the world we’ve made, the community we live in is the community we have made. If we are not happy about the community we live in, then relatively small acts of kindness can change and mitigate against the cruel and heartless policies and practices that are all too commonplace.”
Community Group of the Year was awarded to Star Throwers Cancer Support Charity. They offer a crucial service for people affected by cancer, helping more than 250 people each year. They offer information and support completely free of charge to anyone that has been diagnosed with cancer, as well as their friends and family. The personalised services include therapeutic support, massage treatments, dietary and nutritional advice and much more. More from them in our community section!
Nicky O’Grady from the Enchanted Willow was also present at the awards, having been shortlisted for the Business in the Community Award for fundraising on behalf of Star Throwers. She has organised various events and raffles and made considerable donations which in total raised £3,625, enough to provide 100 cancer support sessions.
